Alabama

No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats will test Crimson Tide's stingy defense

Kentucky's Doron Lamb shoots over Penn's Jack Eggleston (24) during the second half of their college basketball game on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 86-62. Lamb has made 50 percent of his 3-point shots this season. (AP photo / Ed Reinke)

TUSCALOOSA -- The law of averages says Kentucky will win tonight if Alabama can't keep the score low.

That's because there is nothing average about the 12th-ranked Wildcats' offense or the Crimson Tide's defense.

Coming into a nationally televised 8 p.m. game at Coleman Coliseum (ESPN), Kentucky (14-3, 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference) is scoring an average of 80 points per game, tops in the league. It has scored at least 67 points in every game this season. Alabama's scoring average is 67.5.

"We may have scored in the 80s maybe twice this year," said Alabama coach Anthony Grant, stating a fact. "The law of averages says we've got a better chance of winning the game if it's not in the 80s."

Or the 70s, even. The unranked Crimson Tide (10-7, 2-1) is allowing an average of 56.8 points per game, which leads the SEC. When it has allowed 66 or more points, it is 0-5. It is coming off a 70-65 loss at Arkansas, where a five-game winning streak ended.

"We'll try to make sure we value the ball on our end, take good shots, try to keep them as much as we can out of transition and try to limit their opportunities," Grant said.

"Obviously that's easier said than done."

This isn't the Kentucky team that defeated Alabama twice last season: 66-55 at Lexington, Ky., and 73-67 in the SEC tournament. Those Wildcats had a record five players -- including three freshmen -- selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

But some coaches have said the Wildcats, who have made 41 percent of their 3-point shots, are tougher to defend this season. Grant agrees.

"This year's team poses some different challenges because of the way they space the floor offensively and the talent they have," he said.

The Wildcats are led by another terrific trio of freshmen: forward Terrence Jones (18.6 ppg), guard Brandon Knight (17.5 ppg) and guard Doron Lamb (13.8 ppg). Lamb has made 50 percent of his 3-point shots.

"They're a better shooting team this year," said junior forward JaMychal Green, who leads Alabama with 15.4 points per game. "Last year, they had a tougher inside. They had Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins. They were much bigger.

"They're a talented team, but we're talented also."

Kentucky coach John Calipari has noticed.

"(They are) really good defensively, really tough," he said before referencing the Wildcats' 77-70 loss at Georgia. "Their inside guys remind me of the Georgia players. Very physical, get you near the basket and if you're playing half speed, you're going to get killed. Very active in the zone, they trap, they do good things and they run their stuff.

"I'm trying to find a tape to build my confidence up, and I haven't found one yet."

Alabama is 9-0 at Coleman Coliseum. Kentucky is 4-3 away from Rupp Arena.

As of Monday afternoon, only 2,200 tickets were available.

"It's going to be crazy in the gym," Green said. "It's always good to play against a team that has a lot of hype behind them. That's what I live for."